[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

[7HIGH-SPEED]

A high speed chase overnight led state police, Roanoke and Botetourt County authorities through several localities.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

It all began shortly after midnight in Roanoke when police tried to stop a female motorist after recognizing her license plate number in connection with felony warrants in Botetourt and Franklin Counties.
[Super=03-Botetourt Co.; (at suspect walk shot)]

The chase went from Roanoke to Ironto, to Aracadia and ended in Botetourt County where the suspect surroundered in front of the county jail.
It lasted more than two hours and reached speeds of up to 110 miles per hour.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=in botetourt...]
[SUPER=01-Corp. L. W. Bennett/Botetourt Co. Sheriff's Dept.;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=driving revoked.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The suspect has been identified as Karen Thompson.
She was wanted for felon violation of bond.
State charges and charges in Roanoke are still pending.
(----------------)

[7E-81-Ax]

A woman is in critical condition after
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
her car collided with a tractor trailer on Interstate 81.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=19:46:48]
[IN Q=ACCORDING TO WITNESSES]
((TROOPER J.B.BARLOW/VA. STATE POLICE; ACCORDING TO WITNESSES SHE SWERVED TO MISS THE DEBRIS IN THE ROADWAY, PART OF A TIRE, AND LOST CONTROL ACROSS THE MEDIAN. A TRACTOR TRAILER SOUTHBOUND WAS STRUCK JUST ABOUT HEAD-ON.))
[SUPER=01-Trooper J. B. Barlow/Virginia State Police;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=ABOUT HEAD-ON.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Twenty four year old Kristie Lynn Witt was apparently thrown from her car. She was air-lifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she is listed in critical condition.
The accident is still under investigation.
(------------)

On this night, Democrats were keeping score.
As the top vote-getter, Nelson Harris becomes vice-mayor, Bill White wins a third term, and former sheriff Alvin Hudson returns to public office.
[SOT WHITE]
[IN Q=But what today did]
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=will pull you through.]
[SOT HUDSON]
[IN Q=This is the closest]
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=look forward to serving on council.]

The Democratic Victory party included a visit from Jack Parrott who congratulated his fellow council members and the man who will replace him.
[SOT PARROTT]
[IN Q=I think the sheriff was a really]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=doesn't make me feel ashamed.]

For Republican Chris Muse, and independents Bill Bestpitch and Joe Nash the night did not bring victory.
But for a seven way race, they also had significant support, with each of the candidates polling at least 25- hundred votes.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke))

[7WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Turning now to your forecast, today will be partly sunny, with warmer temperatures. Highs could reach the low-80's. Clouds will move in tonight, with lows in the low- to mid-50's.
Looking ahead to the extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=315-Partly to/Mostly Cloudy/70-75/Overcast, with a/Chance of Showers/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[7BIRTHDAYS!] 5/7/98
Thursday:
[SUPER=130-1/Sierra Gallimore/Willis]

[SUPER=130-65/Millie Mullin/Rocky Mount]

[SUPER=130-70/Margie Warren/Danville]

[SUPER=130-18/Jolie Shelton/Hurt]

[SUPER=130-8/Jordan Taylor/Radford]

[SUPER=130-27/Charles Camper, Sr./Wytheville]
[7Movie Review 5/8]
"The Big Hit" is violent, silly and shouldn't be taken seriously for a second. The movie makers throw so much stuff on the screen they are bound to hit some of the time...and some of the time they miss. But the movie gets boring.
Mark Wahlberg is Melvin Smiley, a sweet faced hit man who wants people to like him. Because of that, he has a girlfriend and a fianc� (Christina Applegate) who are bleeding him dry. He needs money so he signs on with his hit man cohorts for a moonlighting job of kidnapping. He should know better. These guys, particularly Cisco-an over the top performance from Lou Diamond Phillips, is no friend and will no doubt con him out of any money he gets.
The victim, played by China Chow is a smart mouth, her father is bankrupt, and her Godfather is Cisco and Melvins tough guy boss. What's a fellow to do?
There are some innovative action scenes and some comic scenes work, but the two make a weird mix most of the time. "The Big Hit" gets a C. It's not all bad, but certainly not a hit.
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]

[45HIGH-SPEED]

A female suspect behind bars this morning after leading State police, Roanoke and Botetourt County authorities on a high speed chase through several localities.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Morning;]

It all began shortly after midnight in Roanoke when police tried to stop a female motorist after recognizing her license plate number in connection with felony warrants in Botetourt and Franklin Counties.
[Super=03-Botetourt Co./This Morning; (at suspect walk shot)]

The chase went from Roanoke to Ironto, to Aracadia and ended in Botetourt County where the suspect surroundered in front of the county jail.
It lasted more than two hours and reached speeds of up to 110 miles per hour.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=in botetourt...]
[SUPER=01-Corp. L. W. Bennett/Botetourt Co. Sheriff's Dept.;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=driving revoked.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The suspect has been identified as Karen Thompson.
She was wanted for felon violation of bond.
State charges and charges in Roanoke are still pending.
(----------------)

Like their Republican counterparts, the trio ran as a combined ticket.. and that may have given them the advantage at the polls.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 7:15:09//7:33:10]
[IN Q=Running as a]
((STEWART HOBBS/I- COUNCIL MEMBER- ELECT: RUNNING AS A TEAM WAS A BIG HELP.. SUPPORT BOTH WAYS.))
((BERT DODSON/I- COUNCIL MEMBER- ELECT: STEWART AND CARL AND I.. LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.))
[SUPER=01-Stewart Hobbs/(I) Council Member-Elect; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bert Dodson/(I) Council Member-Elect; :14]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=couple of weeks.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

With a 5 to 2 majority, the Independent- slash- Democrats on council will be able to elect a new mayor on July 1st.

[45E-NRV-Races]

Despite high expectiongs voters stayed away from the polls in the New River Valley.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]

In Radford, officials were anticipating a 50-percent turnout after more than one hundred voters took advantage of absentee ballots.
But only about 37-percent of registered voters actually made it to the polls.
Incumbent Thomas Starnes will continue as Mayor while Guy Gentry and Ed Cox were elected to city council.
(/////SOT/////)
[3:21:]
[SOT]
[IN Q=All three]
((TRACY HOWARD/RADFORD REGISTRAR:ALL THREE OF THE MAYORS CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN ACTIVE, ALL FIVE OF THE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND IT'S VERY SURPRISING THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE SO LOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SO ACTIVE. ))

Voter turnout was also low in Montgomery County.
In Christiansburg-- close to eleven percent of registered voters cast ballots.
Harold Linkous was re-elected Mayor while Ann Carter, Eddie Lester and Dale Ashworth were elected to town council.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=hold]

Voter turnout was also low in Pulaski County.
[Take Dublin Town Council Leader Board--#260]

In Dublin, voter turnout was 12-percent with five candidates vying for four seats on town council.
The winning candidates: Benny Skeens, Peggy Hemmings, Edith Hampton and Eddie Sayers.

[45E-Starr]

Whitewater prosecutor Ken Starr took a break from the case to argue another one in Richmond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

Starr is representing Meineke Discount muffler shops in Federal Appeals Court-
He urged the Court to toss out a 390-million dollar judgement against the company.
The case is one of several Starr is pursuing in addition to his duties in the Whitewater investigation.
(------------)

[45WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Checking the mid- week forecast now--
Partly sunny and much warmer today, with highs in the upper 70s.
Increasing clouds by tonight, with lows in the mid 50s.
In the four day outlook, scattered showers move back into the forecast...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/& Warmer/75-80/Increasing Clouds/Light Winds/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[82-HIGH-SPEED]

A two- hour, high- speed chase through several counties ended early this morning with the arrest of a woman in Botetourt county.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Morning;]

It all began in Roanoke shortly after midnight when police tried to stop a female motorist after recognizing her license plate number in connection with felony warrants in Botetourt and Franklin Counties.
[Super=03-Botetourt Co./This Morning;]

The chase went from Roanoke to Ironto, to Aracadia and ended in Botetourt County where the suspect surroundered in front of the county jail.
It lasted more than two hours and reached speeds of up to 110 miles per hour.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( ))
[SUPER=01-Corp. L. W. Bennett/Botetourt Co. Sheriff's Dept.;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=REVOKED LICENSE.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The suspect has been identified as Karen Thompson.
She was wanted for felony violation of bond.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[ss=none]

On this night, Democrats were keeping score.
As the top vote-getter, Nelson Harris becomes vice-mayor, Bill White wins a third term, and former sheriff Alvin Hudson returns to public office.
[SOT WHITE]
[IN Q=But what today did]
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=will pull you through.]
[SOT HUDSON]
[IN Q=This is the closest]
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=look forward to serving on council.]

The Democratic Victory party included a visit from Jack Parrott who congratulated his fellow council members and the man who will replace him.
[SOT PARROTT]
[IN Q=I think the sheriff was a really]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=doesn't make me feel ashamed.]

For Republican Chris Muse, and independents Bill Bestpitch and Joe Nash the night did not bring victory.
But for a seven way race, they also had significant support, with each of the candidates polling at least 25- hundred votes.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke))

[82-Danville-Council]

Danville's city council is also welcoming some new members--
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

R. Wayne Williams' father sat on city council years ago-- now he will too.
Williams grabbed close to 18-percent of the vote-- the most of any candidate.
Political newcomers Philip Smith and Charles Scott were also elected to serve Danville.
And they both say they're ready to get to work.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 8:35:57-:08]
[IN Q=We've got to move]
((SMITH: WE'VE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, WITH OUR INDUSTRIAL IMPROVEMENTS AND I BELIEVE THE CITY'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AS WE MOVE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.))
((SCOTT: WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE QUICK OR EASY, BUT WE WILL GET IT DONE.))
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=we will get it done.]
[Super=01-Philip Smith/City Council Member-Elect;]
[Super=01-Charles Scott/City Council Member-Elect;]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Incumbent Ruby Archie reclaimed her seat on council.
But the other incumbant-- Aubrey Ferrell-- lost his chance at another term by just 200 votes.
(----------------)

[8E-81-Ax]

A woman remains in critical condition after
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
her car ran into a tractor trailer on Interstate 81 yesterday evening.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=19:46:48]
[IN Q=ACCORDING TO WITNESSES]
((TROOPER J.B.BARLOW/VA. STATE POLICE; ACCORDING TO WITNESSES SHE SWERVED TO MISS THE DEBRIS IN THE ROADWAY, PART OF A TIRE, AND LOST CONTROL ACROSS THE MEDIAN. A TRACTOR TRAILER SOUTHBOUND WAS STRUCK JUST ABOUT HEAD-ON.))
[SUPER=01-Trooper J. B. Barlow/Virginia State Police;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=ABOUT HEAD-ON.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Twenty four year old Kristie Lynn Witt was apparently thrown from her car.
She was air-lifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The accident is still under investigation.
(------------)

[8WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

That's all for the news-- let's take a quick look at the forecast.
Partly sunny and warmer today, with highs in the upper 70s.
Increasingly cloudy by tonight, with lows cooling into the 50s.
And the extended forecast turns wet again..but temperatures stay warm.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/& Warmer/75-80/Increasing Clouds/Light Winds/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]